Upstate New York hunters are in the midst of several fall seasons: small game, ducks, upland birds (including pheasants), turkey – and of course, deer.

It’s time to think – and think hard -- about what it means to hunt safely with a firearm. The primary rules include: 1). Assume every gun to be loaded; 2). Control the muzzle in a safe direction; 3). Keep finger off the trigger until firing; 3). Be sure of your target and beyond; 4). Wear hunter orange.

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According to the state Department of Environmental Conservation, the 2016 season had the lowest number of hunting-related shooting incidents on record with 13 personal injury incidents reported. However, it should be noted there were still four fatalities, all involving deer hunters.

The DEC in its summary of the 2016 season noted: “Evaluation of the incidents showed that seven (54 percent) were self-inflicted and six (46 percent) were two-party incidents. Four out of five (80 percent) were not wearing hunter orange. This indicates that not wearing hunter orange increases your risk of being involved in a two-party firearm incident.”

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Jim Commentucci | jcommentucci@syracuse.com

Hunters are not allowed to get a hunting license without having taken a state-certified hunter safety course. These courses are offered each year, taught by dedicated volunteer instructors across the state. Putting things in perspective, the DEC notes that “99 percent of the people who hunt safe and enjoyable experiences. Over half a million people hunted in New York (last year), and for every incident listed below, there are thousands of other hunting stories of people who safely and responsibly took game. Just as important, even more passed up shots for the sake of safety, conservation and respect for wildlife.”

The following is the DEC’s run-down of last year’s shooting-related accidents across the state, which should be food for thought for no matter what hunting season one is in. All involved use of shotguns or rifles. None involved bows or crossbows. In addition to these accidents, one hunter died after falling from a tree stand and two other fatalities occurred as a result of medical emergencies in the field, DEC said.

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FATAL SHOOTING INCIDENTS

Oct. 24 – Oneida County, self-inflicted: “A hunter sustained a fatal wound to the head/neck area while hunting deer.” It was determined the Oneida County man accidentally discharged his firearm and shot himself.